With the assistance of the ITUC-Asia Pacific, 25 representatives from the ASEAN Trade Union Council (ATUC) witnessed the historical Second Congress of the Federation of Trade Unions Myanmar (FTUM) after a lengthy struggle for union and workers’ rights recognition in the country.

Brother Khalid Bin Atan, ATUC President, extolled the “many sacrifices, the sweat and blood, the sustained struggle for recognition and existence, long-standing zeal of true trade union activists” for a better future for workers of Myanmar during the opening ceremony along with other speakers from the regional/international unions.

Members of the five industry unions from the agriculture, industrial, transport and logistics, mining and building and wood sectors representing more than the majority of some 1,200 registered unions in Myanmar participated in the FTUM Congress. FTUM changed its name to Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar (CTUM) to assert its lead role under the new law on labour organisations. CTUM elected Brother Maung Maung as its president.